Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. Northern has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ask a few Northern students what drew them to our university and you will get a variety of answers. That's because there is no single thing that make students want to go to Northern; it is ALL the things that we do here. Northern is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs but is also small enough that every time you walk across campus, you'll probably wave "hi" to someone you know.

Curiosity is the raw ingredient of knowledge. It causes us to ask questions, to seek answers, to learn. At Northern Michigan University, natural curiosity and intellectual challenge meet in stimulating classes grounded in the liberal arts. So wherever your curiosity leads you, you can count on the support you need to take the next step, ask the next question, propose the next hypothesis.

The mission of the Northern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Training Site is to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, interpersonal growth and social development; embraces diversity; teaches lifetime leisure skills; fosters spirit and tradition; and builds a lifelong connection to NMU.

Yes, you'll attend your classes, but what else will you be doing as a student at Northern? There's so much stuff to choose from. There's a student organization or club – almost 300 at last count-- for just about every interest. If you're into investigating the paranormal, anime or improv comedy, there's a group. Cheer on your fellow Wildcats at a hockey game or volleyball match. Join a competitive club sport or an intramural team. The sky is the limit.

What's New, NMU for Monday, March 2, 2009

What's New, NMU?

For the week of March 2, 2009

From the 6th floor

After a rough end to last week, we're in a quieter weather pattern. Forecasters call for sunshine early this week with scattered snow showers by Wednesday. While we still have not set a season snowfall record, it seems like we've gotten more snow this year than in years past. The month of February ended up the third snowiest on record, with 58.9 inches of snowfall. The record is 91.9 inches of snow in February of 2002. It's spring break week on campus, so many students fled south in search of warmth.

Physics prof and student research neutrons

An experiment analyzing the internal structure of neutrons at the Department of Energy's Jefferson Laboratory will shed more precise light on how nuclei form and interact. Physic professor Will Tireman said the data collected will lead to a "greater understanding of the stars, sun and beginning of all matter in the universe."
Research on the tiny particles might also lead to visionary applications for computing technology, which he said is rapidly approaching the physical limit of how much smaller electronic devices can get.
"The common belief, which we learn in high school and through early college, is that neutrons are neutral. The reality is that they are internally charged, but with equal parts positive and negative so the net charge is zero," said Tireman. "We're trying to improve on previous measurements of the charge distribution by shrinking the degree of uncertainty in the measurements. It's important to look at where the charge is distributed in order to see how neutrons interact with each other and with protons."Tireman and physics student Brad Schoenrock (left) polished 18 neutron detectors at NMU, then joined collaborators from Kent State University-where Tireman earned his doctorate-at the Jefferson Laboratory in Newport News, Va. Over four days in January, they received training in safety protocols, the managament structure of the lab and radiation safety for high-energy particles. They also helped to complete the assembly of neutron detectors required for the project. Those same detectors will be used by Tireman and his collaborators in 2010 for a separate experiment measuring another aspect of nuclear force.
Tireman and Schoenrock are scheduled to return to the lab in May to collect data, barring any monetary roadblock.
"I think it is pretty amazing that an undergraduate from NMU can have an opportunity like this," said Schoenrock. "I feel that I gained a sense of what a research lab is like and hopefully I will get the opportunity to work in a similar facility one day."

Former NMU director of athletics passes away

Former Northern Michigan University director of athletics Gildo Canale '56 passed away Thursday, Feb. 26. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday (March 4) at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Cathedral.

Gildo Canale served Northern Michigan University from 1959-92. He began his NMU career as NMU�s first full-time trainer. He also served as director of intramurals, head golf coach, assistant athletic director and was appointed director of athletics in 1971. Canale served as director of athletics until 1985.
During his tenure as director of athletics:

*Established ice hockey as an intercollegiate varsity sport at the Division I level. The team reached the NCAA Frozen Four twice after winning two Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) titles.

*Won the 1975 NCAA II football championship and appeared in the playoffs five other times.

*Made four appearances in the NCAA II post-season basketball tournament.

*NMU teams reached the national championship and earned all-America honors in gymnastics, swimming and wrestling.

*Expanded the women's program to national competition.

Canale was named to both the Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Fame (1983) and to the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame (1987). He received the NMU Alumni Service Award in 1995.

His family included wife, Joyce, sons, Mark and Brad, and daughter, Kristy.

Friends of Gildo Canale: If you would like to make a gift to the Canale Scholarship in honor of Gildo Canale, please go to the NMU Foundation online giving page. You will need to input the scholarship name for the Contribution Options field, using the Other option. Thank you for your gift and support of Northern Michigan University.

Highlighting this week's home athletic schedule is the clash between Northern Michigan University (14-15-5, 11-12-5-3 CCHA) and Michigan State University in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) playoffs. The first-round series is a best-of-three affair. The Wildcats are the sixth seed of the playoffs while the Spartans are 11th.
The two teams met earlier in the season in East Lansing. The first night (Oct. 24) the two teams skated to a 2-2 draw, but MSU won the shootout, 2-1, to pick up the extra point. MSU then won the second game of the weekend by a score of 2-0. Last year also in East Lansing the Wildcats knocked the Spartans out of the CCHA playoffs. NMU took the second-round series with an overtime win in the third and deciding game, 3-2, after dropping the first game of the series (5-1). NMU won the second game by a score of 2-1.
Tuesday (March 3) the NMU women's basketball team (14-13, 9-13 GLIAC) takes to the road to face Michigan Tech University in Houghton in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals at 6 p.m. MTU swept NMU in its two regular season meetings. The Huskies won in Houghton (74-43) in the middle of December and then in Marquette a couple of weeks later (69-60). If the Wildcats would win they would advance in the tournament to play Friday and then possibly on Saturday (March 6-7) in the semifinals and finals.

Road to the Joe

The CCHA Hockey Championship is set for Friday and Saturday, March 20-21. If the Wildcats play at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, the NMU Alumni Association will be hosting its annual Wildcat Hospitality Room. Keep your eyes on our Web site for details.

Upper Great Lakes Collegiate Job Fair

On Wednesday, March 18, Career Services holds its annual Upper Great Lakes Collegiate Job Fair from 1- 4 p.m. in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. Approximately 50 employers representing career possibilities in health care, law enforcement, business, manufacturing, human services and government service will be on hand to discuss career possibilities with NMU students, soon-to-be graduates and alumni. Professional business attire is strongly recommended and participants are urged to bring copies of their resumes to share with employers.

Reminder: NMU Golf Course memberships now available

The NMU Golf Course, formerly known as Chocolay Downs, has set rates for the 2009 season. Purchase of annual memberships prior to March 15 receive a discount.

A 5 percent discount on annual memberships and driving range rates is also offered for Alumni Association or NMU Affinity Club members

The golf course is a Jerry and Bruce Mathews III design. Its ninth hole is among the world's largest golfing greens. It is surrounded by wooded areas, homes and condos.

The course was donated to the NMU Foundation by owners Joe and Patsie Gibbs of Interlochen, Mich. The value of the gift is $1.6 million. The couple, whose daughter graduated from NMU, developed the course in 1991 on property they purchased in Chocolay Township. NMU plans to operate the course for the upcoming golf season, with all net proceeds going to student scholarships and academic programming.

NMU hosts 17th annual pow wow

Northern Michigan University will hold its 17th annual “Learning to Walk Together” traditional Native American pow wow on Saturday, March 14, in Vandament Arena. Grand entry times are noon and 6 p.m.
The pow wow is sponsored by the NMU Native American Student Association and will draw dancers and singers from throughout the Great Lakes region. It will feature veterans’ honor song, male and female traditional dances and exhibitions of jingle dress, grass dance, fancy bustle and fancy shawl dances. There will also be social dances such as the two-step and round dance, where audience members will be able to participate. Vendors and artisans will also be on site. A hand drum competition and traditional feast meal are scheduled at 4 p.m. in the NMU Jacobetti Complex.
The pow wow being held in conjunction with the “Living Traditions” folk festival at NMU. Admission is $3. NMU students, elders and children 13 and under are admitted free.

From the e-mail bag

"Here are two photos from our Wildcat Night Across the Country party at the Badger Den in North Pole, Alaska."
Jack "Moit" Daly '81jack@loginnalaska.com